Status of Business Incubators and Accelerators in Signaling Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Abstract

This study aims to examine the status of business incubators and accelerators regarding signaling commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). To this end, the research question is defined as: How, if at all, do business accelerators and incubators signal commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion? The work employs thematic analysis to investigate how entrepreneurship and innovation intermediaries (EIIs) signal EDI among 48 accelerators and incubators in Canada and the United Kingdom. The findings identify signaling means, types of EDI practices, and good and poor EDI practices and indicate that the majority of EIIs examined do not effectively signal commitments to EDI. Study limitations and implications for research and practice are considered.